I think we can proclaim that 2012 was the year we turned the corner and caught a glimpse of what high-penetration solar looks like. Defined from an engineering perspective, a circuit has reached “high penetration” when utility engineers determine that upgrades need to be made to the circuit before additional generation can be installed.
If we look closely at the policy actions that were taken last year, we can see solar leaders focusing less on incentives and more on technical and procedural issues to accommodate higher levels of growth. And it’s no surprise why. Total distributed solar installations, not counting big utility projects connecting to transmission lines, have nearly quadrupled in just the past three years, climbing from 1143 MW in 2009 to roughly 4300 MW in 2012. Here’s a quick recap of some of 2012’s trends.
Interconnection – The huge growth in solar installations over the past few years has steered several states toward reexamining aspects of their interconnection procedures. In some areas, solar generating capacity on individual distribution circuits has reached penetration levels that approach or exceed the 15 percent penetration screen that is ubiquitous in state and federal procedures. This increased solar penetration has the ability to kick even small, mostly non-exporting projects over to burdensome, costly interconnection study process.
As a result, IREC has been working in several states (namely California, Hawaii andMassachusetts) that have revised their 15 percent penetration screen to provide easier approval processes than the study route for applications that would likely have no adverse impacts on the grid. These states and others are also paying more attention to technical screens, timelines and procedural efficiency as utilities strive to accommodate greater numbers of applicants and substantial upgrades to the distribution grid. To incorporate and promote some of these important efficiency provisions, IREC is currently updating its Model Interconnection Procedures, which will be published soon.
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